Acapulco residents dealing with the devastation caused by two major hurricanes within one year now have an additional concern: 40 on-the-loose crocodiles.
Having left their enclosed area at a crocodile farm that’s popular among tourists, the predatory reptiles are now suspected of being in the black lagoon of Puerto Marqués and on beaches in the southern part of Acapulco.
Lo que faltaba, 40 cocodrilos en fuga por Acapulco.
El aumento en las cuencas por John provocó el desborde de la laguna- santuario de cocodrilos de la UMA, se escaparon 40.
Leer nota: https://t.co/qVyfRSv5H2
Redacción: Patricia Renata.#HuracánJohn #CocodrilosAcapulco pic.twitter.com/HYwuM8OG1m— Reporte Diario (@reportediariopv) October 7, 2024
According to authorities, who have formed a special crocodile rescue operation of state and federal officials, five specimens had been captured and returned to their habitat at Cocodrilario Acutus as of Sunday. Surveillance in beach and lagoon areas is expected to lead to additional captures.
Rufino García, manager of the Cocodrilario Acutus, told the newspaper El Sol de Acapulco that their escape was facilitated by heavy rains and flooding at the farm.
The Acutus crocodile farm has been operating as an Environmental Management Unit (UMA) for seven years and reportedly had a population of 60 crocodiles before the escape.
UMAs are designated areas that play a vital role in protecting endangered species like American crocodiles, the type found in Mexico. Their populations have declined in recent years due to habitat loss, hunting and pollution.
Como parte de la atención a los reportes ciudadanos de avistamiento de cocodrilos, esta madrugada @PC_Guerrero, logró la captura de un ejemplar de cocodrilo de aproximadamente un metro de longitud en la zona de Revolcadero del puerto de Acapulco. pic.twitter.com/SXRb9CzhwS
— DIF Guerrero (@DIF_Gro) October 7, 2024
García mentioned that this is the first time the crocs managed to escape Acutus due to a natural phenomenon.
For those curious about how to help find the crocodiles, “They can be spotted [when] they come out of the water to eat,” García said.
The reptiles have reportedly been sighted on the beach of Puerto Marqués and outside some homes in the area. Authorities said the animals are seeking food and warm places to regulate their body temperature.
Raúl Noyola, chief of the Acapulco Fire Department, warned people to “keep your distance and move away slowly” when sighting a crocodile. “Avoid chasing them away, attacking them or catching them. Also, try to avoid getting close to take photos or video, or feeding them,” he added.
More than 100 Puerto Marqués residents demonstrated at Acapulco City Hall to demand that federal authorities help capture the animals.
President Claudia Sheinbaum visited Acapulco last week to assess the damages caused by Hurricane John, which hit the region twice over four days.
On Sept. 23, John made landfall in Marquelia — about 115 kilometers south of Acapulco — as a Category 3 hurricane with 195 km/h winds.
The center of the storm then drifted back out to sea and made its second landfall on Friday, Sept. 27, striking an already drenched Acapulco as a tropical storm. A cumulative rainfall of 101.5 centimeters was recorded at the meteorological station in Acapulco.
“In four days, it rained 85% of what it rains in the entire state during a year,” said Laura Velázquez, coordinator of the Security and Civil Protection Ministry (SSPC).
Velázquez said on Friday that 270,000 residents of Guerrero were affected, half of them in Acapulco, where flooding surrounded more than 40,000 homes. More than 10,000 people were evacuated in four days, using 30 vehicles and 40 boats, and 1,645 were in shelters as of late last week.
Government officials said 100,000 emergency food packages have been distributed, and Sheinbaum said Friday that 8,000 pesos (US $413) will be provided to homeowners to help clean their houses.
With reports from El Sol de Acapulco, Milenio, El País, Animal Político and Forbes
